Farms are also what investors are looking for, at least the types of farms this person seems to be talking about. "Farm" the land for 10-20 years, and then put in a development as the city grows out. These investors are betting that the land will be worth a lot more in a few years.
I put farm in quotes because they are intentionally mining the land of all long term fertility - not a problem as it won't be farmed in a few years anyway, but if you intended to farm for more than 10 years then proper care for the land will ensure better profits of the wrong run.
This explains why a half assed, poorly maintained, corn crop would randomly pop up in a lot between commercial buildings, across from where I used to live.
I put farm in quotes because they are intentionally mining the land of all long term fertility - not a problem as it won't be farmed in a few years anyway, but if you intended to farm for more than 10 years then proper care for the land will ensure better profits of the wrong run.